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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Fun Times and New Found Favs at Dally in the Alley

This past Saturday marked the 36th Annual Dally in the Alley. Although the weather wasn't sure what it was going to do for most of the day, that didn't keep away the droves of people that attended this festival. We showed up to the party a little late in the day, so that meant that we missed some of the acts we wanted to see (including what we hear was a pretty legendary set played in drag by Touch of North America). But, that also meant that we were literally able to dally in the alley as we browsed the great vendors and went from stage to stage checking out musicians we haven't seen before.

One conclusion my friends and I came to while at Dally this year was that no Dally is like the next. Even though it's the same festival, it's a little different every year. This year seemed to have better and possibly more vendors. There were a ton of Detroit t-shirts available, many of which I haven't seen before, and there were some really cool artists as well. Two booths that I fell in love with were 248 Studios and Outer Spaceways. 248 Studios create amazing artwork using photography and illustration. Their pieces were available as prints and even skate decks and included a range of different subjects from Detroit to Star Wars... two things I love right there. But, there were even some puppy dogs thrown in the mix too. I was sold. Their work is super cool to say the least. You can check them out on their website or on Etsy here. Outer Spaceways on the other hand offered hilarious and somewhat outrageous t-shirts and bags for men and women, alongside some really cute tops and skirts. If you like the 80s and 90s or if you like bacon and cats, this is your new favorite designer. You can check them out on Etsy as well.

On top of the great vendors, the overall atmosphere was amazing. People watching at Dally is always entertaining on its own, but you're bound to run into friends both new and old and just have a great time. I also need to mention that out of all of the music we checked out at this year's Dally there was one band in particular that caught my attention and kind of blew my mind. Voyag3r.

They are a 3 piece that includes synth, drums, and guitar. They're rock with a weird electronic feel. They're loud and they're awesome. I think a lot of people will definitely dig this band, whether you're in to metal, electronic, or something in between. They just released their first album (2 songs) this summer on Bellyache Records. We're definitely going to keep an eye on these guys and you should too.

Overall, this year's Dally in the Alley was a success once again in our book! We commend the organizers for continuing to put on such a great event every year. We can't wait to see what you have in store for all of us next year!